It’s Time to Replace the Term “Heavy Metals” with “Potentially Toxic Elements” When Reporting Environmental Research

Pourret, Olivier; Hursthouse, Andrew

doi:10.3390/ijerph16224446

Cited by 180 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…However, it is argued that the term is not clearly defined and describes music rather than science. In the present study, the term "potentially toxic metals" is applied instead of "heavy metals" [3,4]. As a result of intensive human activities and the expansion of industrial and agricultural production, large quantities of potentially toxic metals have been discharged into rivers around the world.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics and Assessment of Toxic Metal Contamination in Surface Water and Sediments Near a Uranium Mining Area

Gao

Liu

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Concentrations of potentially toxic metals including Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, U, Th in surface water and sediment samples collected from a river were analyzed to assess the contaminations, distribution characteristics, and sources of these metals. The contents of the metals were lower than the standard levels set by World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. However, U and Th contents were far beyond the background values of surface water. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, and U in sediments were higher than the background values and the Probable Effect Level (PEL) of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) which may result in high potential harmful biological effects to aquatic ecosystems. Based on the contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and potential ecological risk index (RI), Cd, Cr, and U were considered to be the metals that mainly contribute to the contamination of sediments. The calculation results also indicated that the sites adjacent to the uranium ore field were highly polluted. Results of cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and correlation analysis revealed that Cr, Pb, U, and Th were highly correlated with each other. These metals mainly originated from both anthropogenic sources and natural processes, especially emissions from uranium mining and quarrying, whereas Cd mostly came from anthropogenic sources (agricultural activities) of the upper reaches of the river.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics and Assessment of Toxic Metal Contamination in Surface Water and Sediments Near a Uranium Mining Area

Gao

Liu

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Due to improper landfill waste management, toxic leachate that can spread heavy metals and other toxic substances around the Khon Kaen municipal landfill environment is present [2]. The major metal contaminants in the Khon Kaen municipal landfill are chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) [3][4][5][6][7]. Sriuttha et al [7] demonstrated that concentrations of Cr, Cd and Pb in the water and sediment near the municipal landfill were 0.016 ± 0.009, not detected and 0.009 ± 0.0006 mg/L, and 19.91 ± 0.96, 0.47 ± 0.23 and 5.40 ± 0.13 mg/kg, respectively, whereas Intamat et al [6] determined that arsenic (As) concentrations in the water, sediment and tilapia fish muscles in the landfill environment were 0.006 ± 0.002, 1.08 ± 0.64 and 0.16 ± 0.16 mg/kg, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Experimental Hybrid Catfish Exposed to Heavy Metals in a Municipal Landfill Reservoir

Neeratanaphan

Kamollerd

Suwannathada

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of Cr, Cd and Pb in the water, sediment and experimental hybrid catfish muscles, and to compare the genetic differentiation and the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl) between the catfish from the contaminated reservoir near a municipal landfill and the reference area after chronic exposure. The concentrations of all metals in the water and the concentration of Cd in the sediment exceeded Thailand’s surface water quality and soil quality standards, respectively, whereas the concentrations of these metals in fish muscles did not exceed Thailand’s food quality standards. Dendrogram results in terms of genetic similarity values of the catfish from the reference and the landfill areas were 0.90 to 0.96 and 0.79 to 0.86, respectively, implying that the genetic differentiation of the fish from the landfill was greater than of those from the reference area. The fish in the landfill reservoir had slightly increased protein carbonyl levels. The results indicate that chronic heavy metal exposure can cause genotoxicity of the hybrid catfish and induce protein carbonyl as an oxidative stress biomarker in the reservoir near a municipal landfill.

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“…Soils are critical environments where rock, air, and water interface. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils are always present at a background level of non-anthropogenic origin, and their input to soils is related to the weathering of parent rocks and to pedogenesis [1,2]. In recent decades, natural soil content has been increased by human input [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Cultivated Soils from Lombardy (Northern Italy): Spatial Distribution, Origin, and Management Implications

et al. 2020

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This work aims to quantify the contribution of agricultural practices to diffuse pollution in cultivated soils. Two samples (the first from the top layer and the second from a depth of about 100 cm) were retrieved from about 1000 soil profiles and analyzed for their potentially toxic elements (PTEs) content (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn). In addition, we collected dedicated soil profiles for three specific types of land use and agronomic practice, namely vine-, cereal- and rice-growing areas. Baseline concentrations and distribution maps were produced. Statistical data treatment, coupled with the results of the dedicated soil profiles, enabled the identification of precise pollution sources and processes. In cultivated soils, PTEs contents prove to be generally well below the Italian regulatory limits, with the exception of Cu in vineyard soils, due to the long-lasting use of Cu-based pesticides. South of Milan and in other urban areas, we attribute the top soil enrichment in Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn to industrial activities and urban settlement. Ni sporadically exceeds regulatory standards, but its association with Mn and its depth distribution point to a natural origin, mostly due to the occurrence of serpentine. The project demonstrates that although agriculture, especially in the form of vineyards and of intensive cultivation, certainly contributes to pollution, such contribution is exceeded by that deriving from industry and road traffic.

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It’s Time to Replace the Term “Heavy Metals” with “Potentially Toxic Elements” When Reporting Environmental Research

Cited by 180 publications

References 17 publications

Characteristics and Assessment of Toxic Metal Contamination in Surface Water and Sediments Near a Uranium Mining Area

Characteristics and Assessment of Toxic Metal Contamination in Surface Water and Sediments Near a Uranium Mining Area

Genotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Experimental Hybrid Catfish Exposed to Heavy Metals in a Municipal Landfill Reservoir

Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Cultivated Soils from Lombardy (Northern Italy): Spatial Distribution, Origin, and Management Implications

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